Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1887-06-10

blue eyes, and the whole countenanco staid
and animutionlcss. He was farmer, and
this added to the fact that we knew one
or two old irongrays with similar pointed
forclocks, led us TO think him an old,
wOrnout war horse, taken from fence
corner rs candidate who would not en-
barrass his supporters by inconvenicnt cavort-
ings on the platform As to the tamencss of
the old hero's countenance we had, few
days since, something of u revelation in two
portraits possessed by Mrs. Eaton, grand
daughter OF General Harrison. One, the well
known face, with the forelock has been long
In her possession. An artist was sent from the
East TO paint it, and the General submitted
evidently feeling hopclessy resigned during
the sittings The other was lately presented to
her by gentleman whose father was the ANA
teur artist and friend OF the General. Though
technically inferior to the first II is painted by
one possessing much more conception of char
ncter, and though evidently he was some years
older than when the first was taken, there is
real fire in the dark eye and an expression
throughout that speaks the genuine soldier.
1t looks rs though his friend, the artist, might
have said to him, Come, now, tell us some
thing about Tippeclnoe!'
The portrait OF Judge Symmes, by the way,
is also in the possession of Mrs Eaton.
The "log cabin" device was the result OF cir
cumstance. on Harrisons resignation from the
army bl VI WIN INC s'tNlS-
tnry of War, there was no house at North Doud
to be obtained for his family but one small log
house, which he occupied until frame additions
were made. The original log portion was then
clapboardcd. The whole formed low, two.
story affair, containing dozen small rooms.
Although Harrison had in all ten children, the
hearts of himself and wife were equal TO the
adoption OF two others, the orphan children OF
an old army Comradc. Their hospitality was
also unstinted. Harrison kept what was called
an "open house, and gave hearty welcome and
good cheer to which these days are not very
familiar
His wife was Presbyterian and he an Epis.
copalian, but he knew no sect or creed TO
crnmp his generous heart, and his house was
the resort OF priests of all sects alike. This
house stood at the foot of n slope; above on
the hillside Is a never-faiing spring, from
which water was carried throughout the whole
interior. Fire destroyed the house and its con-
tents almost entirely, many Of the latter being
historical relies which were invaluable. a road
now passes over the spot where the house once
stood, and n row OF tall pear trees which the
General planted, mark the line of his oldtime
garden
The 'spring lot" as II is called, above the site
of the house, is now owned by Richard Stone,
Esq, whose appreciation OF the delectablc view
thercfrom, up the river and down also, is akin
to that OF Judge Symmes himself. one can here
longer view than elsewhere between Pittsburgh
and Cincinnati on the meandering Ohio. The
writer saw from this point during the late high
water seven steamers at one time driving i'm
mense barges of black diamonds, sight that
would have been interesting TO poor Fitch, the
real inventor of the steamboat, us we'll as TO the
venerable Symmes.
One reason why this beautiful locality, which
had the earliest start in point of settlement,
has remained more purely country than many
less interesting spots in the vicinity of Cincin-
natl, is owing to the fact that the land has
been kept in the hands OF the first families who
settled here. There were DIR. stephen Wood,
Daniel G. Howell who was the first male child
born ut North Bend, DIR. John l.. Watkins, who
was the early teacher OF Harrison's children,
and Judge Short who owned about four miles
along the river about two thousand acres.
General Harrison also owned considerable. In
the other direction, beyond the Miami river,
Ezekiel Hughes, who came West in 1896, took
up two sections OF Government land amounting
TO 1850 acres, all of which, except sixty'iivc
ncres. arc owned by his descendants to-day. He
paid the Government &. o. per acre.
Right here comes up one of the good things
General Harrison did for the country. When
Governor of the Northwest Territory he peti.
toned Congress and obtained n law by which
these large Government sections might be di-
vided and sold in half and quarter sections, so
that q poor man might buy himself modest
little farm OF 100 acres only, II he wished
Upon the cliff in sight OF tho spot where once
stood General Harrison's house Is the
plain slab marking his resting place. There